The average salary for a switchboard operator in California is around $48,840 per year.
Avg Salary
Switchboard operators earn an average yearly salary of $48,840.
Wages typically start from $37,380 and go up to $79,260.
33% below national average Updated in 2025
Switchboard operator earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level switchboard operator earnings begin at:
$38.11 per hour
$79,260 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level switchboard operator earnings begin at:
$31.54 per hour
$65,600 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level switchboard operator earnings begin at:
$23.48 per hour
$48,840 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level switchboard operator earnings begin at:
$20.00 per hour
$41,600 per year
10th percentile
Starting level switchboard operator earnings begin at:
$17.97 per hour
$37,380 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Switchboard operator salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $59,860 |
| District of Columbia | $54,700 |
| California | $48,840 |
| Washington | $47,800 |
| Minnesota | $47,430 |
| New York | $45,330 |
| New Hampshire | $44,210 |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 |
| Colorado | $43,720 |
| Maine | $43,350 |
| Illinois | $42,660 |
| Vermont | $42,630 |
| New Jersey | $40,430 |
| Arizona | $40,380 |
| Wisconsin | $40,030 |
| Rhode Island | $39,850 |
| Georgia | $39,490 |
| Kansas | $38,760 |
| North Carolina | $38,520 |
| Iowa | $38,400 |
| Connecticut | $38,380 |
| Nevada | $38,070 |
| Idaho | $38,000 |
| Oregon | $37,970 |
| New Mexico | $37,710 |
| Alaska | $37,690 |
| Kentucky | $37,590 |
| Nebraska | $37,570 |
| West Virginia | $37,430 |
| Michigan | $37,390 |
| Missouri | $37,130 |
| Maryland | $37,080 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,890 |
| Indiana | $36,860 |
| Virginia | $36,730 |
| Ohio | $36,350 |
| Montana | $36,270 |
| Delaware | $35,980 |
| Louisiana | $35,890 |
| Tennessee | $35,550 |
| Florida | $35,410 |
| Arkansas | $35,290 |
| Oklahoma | $35,280 |
| South Carolina | $34,010 |
| Texas | $33,620 |
| Alabama | $32,210 |
| Mississippi | $30,520 |
| North Dakota | $30,090 |
| Wyoming | $30,030 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $28,700 |
| South Dakota | $27,190 |
| Utah | $24,840 |
| Guam | $22,330 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,870 |
How do switchboard operator salaries compare to similar careers?
Switchboard operators earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than administrative assistants but more than piano tuners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Administrative assistant salary | $55K |
| Medical secretary salary | $54K |
| Funeral director salary | $51K |
| Travel agent salary | $51K |
| Customer service representative salary | $50K |
| Switchboard operator salary | $49K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $47K |
| Office clerk salary | $48K |
| Library assistant salary | $48K |
| Piano tuner salary | $48K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)